The people at First Data are great! That's it, nothing else. Don't come to FD. Everyone is trying to get out.

Cons

Everything. Stay far away. They bring you here and then do everything to screw their employees. Cut all benefits, misrepresented stock opportunity to new hires - blatantly lied. No 401k match. No regard for employees - viewed as easily replaceable. Wouldn't know talent if it hit them in the face - and don't know how to develop and engage their talent. Lie to employees about everything and put a 'spin' on everything. No integrity, 0 ethics. The worst company I have ever worked for. Would never refer an enemy here. CEO is constantly devising new ways to take money from employees. What company pays more stock than cash to the majority of employees? First Data. CEO may have been good at Chase but why wasn't he next in line for CEO? He has no people skills and just doesn't give a hoot about employees. Too much more to list. Stay away.

Advice to Management

Your 'owner-associates' are not stupid - they see right through you. Do some research - if you want to increase the stock price, focus on your employees - there is a direct linkage there. Stop thinking you know everything and listen to the ideas of others. This isn't the 1980s... Your management skills need to progress and change with the times. FD is a good company, but you are bringing it down.

They dont want to give any salary increases, they will show documents about your position and they "average" salary will ALWAYS be lower then what you are currently being paid, even when it is vastly lower than any other salary review company.lots of forced "additional responsibility", they will add tasks and projects onto your workload requiring you to work 12+ hour shifts to complete and working weekends along with your normal work week is just expected.

First Data does a really good job at hiring and selecting middle management candidates and encourages constant learning and development, everyone has access to a very large database of E-learning and reading material via the online mega reference tool (First Data University) and there are yearly leadership training sessions geared at re-emphasizing the leadership creed and leadership expectations. Co-workers are extremely nice and everyone looks out for each other similar to a family.

Cons

Everyone works really hard with the anticipation that "meritocracy" will get you the recognition or financial reward merited with good performance and year after year you are advised that you are a meets expectation because either you are the highest in your pay scale or others in your team are too low so the money went to them or the worst thing to hear "thanks for all your hard work...while I would've liked to give you an exceeds...I couldn't because xyz"...

Advice to Management

For years we've been hearing about meritocracy, it's time the organization REALLY start to recognize the people who make it happen each and every day not just with the internal reward system, but with bonuses, spot bonuses and promotional increases (not just at end of year, but maybe mid year), giving those who really do a good job a better sense of how they are appreciated.

Great place to start a career in IT. I learned a lot while I was here.

Cons

I think senior management is full of arrogant morons. They have no idea what is going on in the company. Things break down pretty rapidly above the director level. There are also lots of people here that get paid ridiculous amounts of money despite having zero capability to fulfill their roll. Many people have decided to leave this company for better opportunities.